2016 Los Angeles Auto Show

The outrageous vehicles you had to see at the LA Auto Show

The VW Atlas, Toyota C-HR, and Mazda CX-5 unveiled at this year’s LA show – y’know, the sorts of cars people actually buy – may have been the stars, but no self-respecting show goes by without the more eclectic stuff. Here’re LA’s.

First of all, don’t get too excited: the “R” in “RT” does not stand for “rotary,” so, while Mazda will tell you they’d love to build another rotary-powered racer like the famous 787B, the rules just don’t allow for it right now. Still, the RT24-P remains a spectacular-looking racer, the first we’ve seen from Mazda that meets new class regulations for the 2017 season. The car you see here is powered by a turbo’d version of the MX-5’s venerable MZR 2.0-litre four-banger, and is in race-ready condition save for the headlights. It will even sport a similar paint job when it debuts at the 2017 Rolex at Daytona race in January.

Porsche 911 RSR

Speaking of race cars debuting in January: look a little ways down the grid from the RT24-P and you’ll see this, the latest version of Porsche’s successful GT-class racer. It’s based on the 997.2 platform but, oh, is it ever modified; the engine has been moved far enough forward that it’s now ahead of the rear axle, effectively turning this 911 from a rear-engined racer to a mid-engined one. The move makes for better balance, but also allows the installation of a larger rear splitter. It’s so huge that it actually looks like it’s burst through the rear bumper.

Jeep Wrangler Trailcat

Lame name? Perhaps. But all that does is help further mask what’s under the hood of this beastliest of all Wranglers: an engine straight out of the Charger/Challenger Hellcat models, all 707 horsepower of it. Yes, while its two doors stipulate the Trailcat starts as a short-wheelbase Wrangler Sport, distance between the tires has grown by 305 mm, and the windshield chopped for a real hot-rod look. While the Trailcat’s Dana axles are available on other Wranglers, the tires, wheels and shocks have all been modified for some real high-powered rock-crawling.

Mercedes-Maybach S650

If the recently-revealed Mercedes-AMG S63/65 models are too, shall we say, “pedestrian” for you, then try this on for size. That’s $300,000 US worth of prime German steer you’re looking at, complete with a twin-turbo V12, mega 20-inch wheels, more leather than a saddlery, and even some matching luggage. Because what would any super-luxury car be without matching luggage?

Nissan Rogue: Rogue One Star Wars Edition

I don’t know if the producers of the upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story epic space opera contacted Nissan before naming their film (doubt it) but rare is it that such a perfect car/movie cross-promotion occurs. To show how truly special this partnership is, Nissan actually contracted Star Wars fans to help build the 3,000-lb Tie Fighter replica that framed Nissan’s entire stand at the show and even went so far as to develop a mini-film that placed the Rogue – and the audience – in a Star Wars-themed battle scene, like you might see a half-hour away from the stand, at Universal Studios. At any rate, more than just a fancy paint job (it’s available in either white or black) the special Rogue comes with a – wait for it – a replica life-size Stormtrooper helmet. That’s no joke.

Jaguar I-PACE

From the space-inspired Rogue One Star Wars Edition, we moved to the space-aged Jaguar I-Pace, a full-electric SUV concept that’s slated for production in 2018. It certainly looks the part, with its moon boot-like wheels and tires, ultramodern front fascia, and icy blue exterior trim. Underneath all that it also walks the walk, with twin electric motors producing 516 lb-ft of torque and 395 hp, enough to propel the I-Pace – yes, it runs – to 100 km/h in about four seconds. Inside, it looks as modern as you’d expect, with touchscreens and rotary dials for all your major controls, as well as a steering wheel with hidden buttons that only show themselves once illuminated. One of the stars of the show, that’s for sure.

Chevrolet Colorado ZR2

Chevrolet is calling the ZR2 a “segment of one,” and while the Ram 1500 Rebel and Ford Raptor may have something to say about that, it doesn’t hurt the ’Rado’s coolness factor. Lifted suspension, wider track, cut front and rear bumpers for better approach/departure angles, and all-new “dynamic spool” damper tech from Ontario-based Multimatic all contribute to a truck seeking to leave the workaday digs of your typical truck for desert dunes and rocky forest rails. Plus, it looks awesome.

Lincoln Navigator Concept

Sure, it may not be new, having debuted at the 2016 New York Auto Show, but the Navi concept still stands tall months down the road. Massive tires, airplane-style seats (that we first thought were props, but have since migrated to the production Lincoln Continental) and full-length gullwing doors that make the items on the Tesla Model X seem almost Mickey Mouse by comparison all lead to a luxury SUV concept of the highest order. It appears more a Range Rover than something from Lincoln’s Ford parent company, that’s for sure.

Chevrolet Spark Activ

What? Race cars, luxury SUVs and now this? A city runabout? But hold on a sec. This side of a slightly higher ride height, the Spark Activ may not have any real performance changes over the regular Spark, but the styling additions make for a unique, European take on the city runabout, a car segment that’s been growing in North America over these last few years. Special body cladding, new 15-inch wheels, and even some off-road skidplates make for an intriguing styling package. It will probably still be too tight inside to really do much activity, but whatevs. No plans to bring it to the Canadian market just yet, but we’ll keep you posted.

Lexus IS300 Sriracha Edition

While this one-off creation from the well-known West Coast Customs tuning garage is destined for the Toyota Museum in Torrance, California, it’s too freaking cool – well, “hot,” anyway – to keep off this list. The hot rod-esque bright orange-fleck paint immediately draws the eye (it’s the same shade as the popular Huy Fong Foods Sriracha bottles seen in every condiments aisle, noodle shop, and pizza parlour these days) but a ton of other details emerge as you look closer. Green highlights around the grill and on the brake calipers and Sriracha badges that mimic the Huy Fong logo are obvious exterior bits, which are quite the sight. Inside is where the real magic happens, however; instead of a “Sport +” drive mode, there’s a “Sriracha” drive mode, the seat heating buttons have been turned reddish orange and given a flame logo, and the steering wheel heater button has been switched to a red one with a chili pepper on it. Spicy.

The Pink Panther

The centerpiece of the Galpin Ford display between the show’s two main halls is not one of their 700-plus-horsepower Mustangs, or high-riding trucks, or tuned Volvo XC90s. Those are all there, but they sit on the periphery of the exhibit, staring either quizzically or enviously at the center-stage Pink Panther, an Oldsmobile Tornado that’s seen its body stretched beyond recognition (the driver sits ahead of the front axle, with a 455-cubic-inch V8 as a headrest) and has been given a full-length sliding door and an actual snout. It’s the actual Jay Ohrberg-designed car that appeared in various broadcasts of the show throughout the ’60s and ’70s, and it’s as weird and wacky as the show was.

The Backup Pickup

The sight is fairly normal at first: a 1964 Ford Econoline pickup that’s been fitted with drag tires and a big 427 V8. No big deal; they drag-raced everything in the ’60s, right? Sure. Then, however, you realize that even though the Econoline was RWD, the drag tires are on the—front. And the headlights are painted over. And the steering wheel is—facing the wrong way. This is the Backup Pickup, so its body has been flipped on the chassis (yay, modular body-on frame design!) just to turn heads in exhibition drags across the country. Could you imagine seeing this thing tearing through the quarter-mile at 120 mph—backwards!?

This 3D-printed car

Well, that’s not entirely true as it’s really only the frame of a car, and while much of what you see is 3D-printed, the structural pieces like the rear crossmembers and axles are more traditionally crafted. Still, it’s interesting to see just where 3D-printing can lead, and how it could greatly reduce build times; this print was done in about six hours.

High-risers

This maniacal GMC 3500 HD towering 10 feet above the ground is just a sample of some of the wackiness that can be found in the truck section of the show’s Aftermarket Hall. Jeeps, Toyota Tundras, Hummers, Escalades: they’re all here, and they’ve all been lifted to bro-dozer status by people that clearly think no high – no, not that kind of high – is too high. Heck, some Fords on display have been lifted so much their headlights had to be dropped down in order to comply with highway regs.

Lowriders

Well, we are in Los Angeles, right? No self-respecting car show here would be complete without some of Crenshaw Boulevard’s finest. We’ll take the ’59 Impala, please.